Nebulizer

ABSTRACT

A nebulizer comprising a main body, an atomiser, and a vibrating element. The atomiser comprises a substrate, a main recipient supported by the substrate for containing liquid and having surfaces delimiting the liquid reservoir, and a dosing reservoir arranged on the main recipient so as to delimit a predetermined amount of liquid to be expelled. The dosing reservoir comprises a hollow section defining the predetermined amount of liquid, a solid section, a central section, an orifice membrane plate, and a fluidic channel arranged in-between a bottom surface of the solid section and the flat top surface of the main reservoir so as to create a capillary communication between the hollow section and the orifice membrane plate.

This application claims priority from European Patent Application No. 08169 784.9, filed Nov. 24, 2008, the entire disclosure of which isincorporated herein by reference.

FIELD OF THE INVENTION

The present invention relates to a nebulizer that is principally, butnot exclusively, used for therapeutic purposes. A liquid, such as amedicament in liquid form, is nebulized by the nebulizer into a spray offine droplets and a patient breathes in this spray of droplets fortreatment purposes. Other uses may relate to air-freshening,aromatherapy and the like.

BACKGROUND OF THE INVENTION

A known nebulizer is described in the document U.S. Pat. No. 6,705,312.This device has a main body containing a vibrating element, electroniccircuitry, and battery for powering the circuitry and the vibratingelement. An atomiser is provided on top of the main body, and issuitably coupled to the electronic circuitry and the vibrating elementto allow for atomisation of liquid. Generally, a mouthpiece is furtheradded to allow a patient to correctly receive the atomised spray ofdroplets through the mouthpiece. The atomiser comprises an orifice platethrough which liquid is ejected. By powering the vibrating element, anultrasonic sound wave is applied to the liquid and this liquid willcontact the orifice plate so as to be expelled as a spray of droplets.

The atomiser comprises a main reservoir into which a liquid substancethat is to be expelled as a spray of droplets is poured prior to use. Achamber lid containing the orifice plate is provided over the mainreservoir.

The main body further comprises a dosing reservoir that is provided onthe top surface of the main body, just below the atomiser. By fillingthe main reservoir with liquid, a specific predetermined dose of liquidmay thus enter this dosing reservoir. This dosing reservoir fixes theamount of liquid to be expelled, and thus depends on the desiredtreatment.

The chamber lid will seal both the main reservoir and the dosingreservoir, and thus delimits these reservoirs from each other. Theremaining liquid in the main reservoir can be used for further doses,and this main reservoir thus constitutes a buffer zone.

A similar device is manufactured and commercialised by Respironics® as aso-called adaptive aerosol delivery device.

In this device, again the dosing reservoir is formed on the top surfaceof the main body, and is filled by first filling a main reservoir sothat the correct amount of liquid may then enter the dosing reservoir. Achamber lid, once fitted over the dosing reservoir and the mainreservoir, delimits one from the other so that the correct amount ofliquid is trapped in the dosing reservoir. By activating a vibratingelement contained in the main body, the atomiser will atomise liquidcontained in the dosing reservoir and this will be expelled as a sprayof droplets.

Both of these prior art devices thus have a dosing reservoir on the topsurface of the main body. As such, a correct size of the dosingreservoir may be accurately defined when fabricating the main body.

However, this dosing reservoir is integrated into the main body, andforms part of the top surface. As such, the top surface is not flat, sothat it becomes difficult to correctly clean the dosing reservoir.

This is of course most important to avoid contamination of liquid,either by residues that stick to the dosing reservoir and to thevibrating element, or by mixture with a different liquid if thetreatment is altered.

Further, in the case, for example, the described device is used as anaromatherapy device having a similar structure, the mix of essencesshould of course be avoided, so that here too it is important tocorrectly clean the dosing reservoir and the vibrating element to avoidundesired mixing or contamination.

The atomiser can be removed and cleaned, for example in a tub, but themain body containing the power supply and the electronic circuitrycannot be readily plunged into a cleaning solution for thoroughcleaning.

Thus, correct cleaning is very difficult, if not impossible to achieve.Furthermore, due to the particular arrangement, the nebulizer can onlyoperate when held at a specific angle, either otherwise the device maynot work, or liquid may spill out.

It is, therefore, an object of the present invention to provide aninnovative nebulizer that overcomes the inconveniences and limitationspresented by the prior art, and that allows to ensure correct cleaningof the dosing reservoir and the vibrating element, as well as of therest of the device, in a simple manner.

It is another object of the present invention to provide such nebulizerthat is inexpensive, partly disposable and easy to use.

SUMMARY OF THE INVENTION

Thus, the present invention concerns a nebulizer. In accordance with afirst embodiment of the present invention, a nebulizer is provided thatcomprises: a main body (1); an atomiser (2) for atomising a liquid so asto expel the liquid as a spray of droplets from the nebulizer; and avibrating element (22, 23), wherein the atomiser comprises: a substrate(4), a main recipient (16) supported by the substrate for containing theliquid and having a bottom outer surface, a flat top inner surface andan outer wall (16 a) erecting from the top surface to delimit the mainrecipient, a dosing reservoir (18) arranged on the main recipient (16)for delimiting a predetermined amount of the liquid to be expelled, andhaving a upper surface (18 t) and a wall (18 a) extending downwards fromthe upper surface (18 t) towards the main recipient (16), when assembledthereto, the dosing reservoir (18) comprises a hollow section (18 c)defining the predetermined amount of liquid, a solid section (18 d)extending downwards from the upper surface (18 t), a central section (18e) being a hole traversing the upper surface (18 t) and arranged in thesolid section (18 d), an orifice membrane plate (22) arranged at thebottom of the hole of the central section (18 e), for sealing the hole,and a fluidic channel (21) arranged in-between a bottom surface of thesolid section (18 d) and the flat top inner surface of the mainrecipient (16) for creating a capillary communication between the hollowsection (18 c) and the orifice membrane plate (22).

In accordance with a second embodiment of the present invention, thefirst embodiment is modified so that the dosing reservoir has a topsealing surface (18-1) arranged above the fluidic channel (21) so thatthe fluidic channel (21) is trapped between the top surfaces (18-1) anda top surface of the vibrating element. In accordance with a thirdembodiment of the present invention, the first embodiment or the secondembodiment is further modified so that the dosing reservoir (18) isprovided as a disposable part. In accordance with a fourth embodiment ofthe present invention, the main recipient (16) is provided as adisposable part. In accordance with a fifth embodiment of the presentinvention, the first embodiment, the second embodiment, the thirdembodiment, and the fourth embodiment are further modified so that themain body (1) comprises electronic circuitry, the vibrating element (22,23), and a power source for powering the vibrating element so as to acton liquid in the atomiser, whereby the liquid is expelled as a spray ofdroplets.

In accordance with a sixth embodiment of the present invention, thefirst embodiment, the second embodiment, the third embodiment and thefourth embodiment are modified so that the nebuliser (2) includes thevibrating element (22, 23), and the main body (1) includes a powersource for powering the vibrating element so as to act on liquid in theatomiser, whereby the liquid is expelled as a spray of droplets.

Thanks to the features of the nebulizer according to the presentinvention, it is possible to reliably clean the dosing reservoir, aswell as the main reservoir. The main reservoir and the vibrating elementeach have a bottom surface that is flat, and the dosing reservoir is ofthe disposable type.

BRIEF DESCRIPTION OF THE DRAWINGS

Other features and advantages of the nebulizer according to the presentinvention will become clear from reading the following description,which is given solely by way of a non-limitative example therebyreferring to the attached drawings in which:

FIG. 1 a and FIG. 1 b show an example of a nebulizer according to thepresent invention,

FIG. 2 shows an exploded view of an atomiser for a nebulizer accordingto the present invention,

FIG. 3 shows a top view and a cross-sectional view of the assembledatomiser of FIG. 2,

FIG. 4 shows a bottom view and a cross-sectional view of a disposablepart of the atomiser of FIG. 2 comprising a dosing reservoir togetherwith an orifice plate.

DETAILED DESCRIPTION OF THE INVENTION

An example of a preferred embodiment will now be described whilereferring to the figures.

FIGS. 1 a and 1 b thus show a general overview of a nebulizer accordingto the present invention. The nebulizer has a main body 1 containingelectronic circuitry and a battery for powering the circuitry, in asimilar manner as in the conventional devices discussed here before. Anatomiser 2 is provided on top of the main body, and is suitably coupledto the electronic circuitry, not shown, to allow for atomisation ofliquid. Generally, a mouthpiece, not shown, may be added allowing apatient to correctly receive the atomised spray of droplets through themouthpiece.

Thus, the nebulizer comprises a vibrating element. This vibratingelement may be included in the atomiser 2, which further comprises anorifice plate through which liquid is ejected. However, the vibratingelement may also be arranged in the main body 1 instead of in atomizer2. By powering the vibrating element, an ultrasonic sound wave isapplied to the liquid and this liquid will contact the orifice plate soas to be expelled as a spray of droplets.

In this example, the vibrating element may comprise an ultrasoundtransducer 23, such as a piezoelectric element, combined with a membraneplate 23 that is arranged so as to transmit ultrasonic energy generatedby the ultrasound transducer to the liquid. Such membrane plate isoptional.

In this embodiment, the atomiser comprises a main recipient into which aliquid substance that is to be expelled as a spray of droplets may bepoured prior to use. A lid is provided over the main recipient.According to the present invention, this lid is in the form of a dosingreservoir containing the orifice plate, as will be explained in moredetail later.

Main body 1 is arranged to receive a flat substrate 4 for receiving themain recipient 16 and the dosing reservoir 18 (FIG. 1 b).

As shown in FIG. 2, atomiser 2 comprises a bottom flat substrate 4, amain recipient 16 and a dosing reservoir 18 with, in this example, theflat substrate 4 being mounted on the main body 1 (not shown) and on thelower surface of this substrate 4 electrical connection pins may beprovided for connection to the vibrating element and the electronics.Several other parts are provided to maintain the vibrating elements 22,23 on the top surface of flat substrate 4.

Next, a main recipient 16 is provided and may receive liquid to beatomised. Main recipient 16 has a lower surface with a flat outer bottomsurface, and a flat upper inner surface on which a wall 16 a erects fordelimiting the main recipient. Further, a dosing reservoir 18 isprovided on the main recipient and may enter therein, in a manner aswill be explained in more detail later. Several gaskets 6 are used toassure the sealing between the main recipient 16, dosing reservoir 18and the top substrate 4.

Finally, the atomiser comprises an orifice membrane plate 22 throughwhich liquid is ejected. Membrane plate 22 is arranged within dosingreservoir 18, as will be explained in more detail further on. Bypowering the vibrating element, an ultrasonic sound wave is applied toliquid contained in the dosing reservoir and this liquid will contactthe orifice plate so as to be expelled as a spray of droplets.

As shown in this example, dosing reservoir 18 has a flat top surface 18t having a side projection that extends from its top surface 18 t andthat corresponds to and aligns with a side projection on substrate 4. Aclip 20 may be fitted over these side projections to fix onto topsurface 18 t of dosing reservoir 18 so as to seal all elements togetherto ensure liquid-tightness of the atomiser. Such clip is known as such,and may be similar to that used in the Respironics® device discussedabove. Of course, other suitable conventional attachment means may beused instead.

Dosing reservoir further has a wall 18 a extending downwards from thetop surface 18 t, towards main recipient 16, when assembled thereto. Theedge of top surface 18 t may be partly provided with a rim, as can beseen in FIG. 3.

FIG. 3 shows the atomiser in assembled state. Clip 20 fastens togetherdosing reservoir 18 to substrate 4, which together enclose mainrecipient 16. As can be seen, wall 16 a of main recipient 16 has, inthis example, a double-wall structure along a certain peripheral sectionwith a groove therein for receiving rim 18 b of the dosing reservoir toensure correct sealing when these parts are fitted together.

Of course, other suitable arrangements may be conceived that allow forcorrect sealing of the main recipient and the dosing reservoir so that apredetermined amount of liquid is obtained when using the dosingreservoir of this embodiment.

Dosing reservoir 18 has a peripheral wall 18 a, radially positionedinwards with respect to rim 18 b, that fits into the inner part of mainrecipient 16 as delimited by wall 16 a. As shown, wall 18 a of thedosing reservoir is smaller in diameter than wall 16 a, whereby a bufferzone 19 is created in main recipient 16, once the two parts are fittedtogether, as any remaining liquid in the main recipient, which is calledthe excess dose, cannot enter dosing reservoir 18 and may thus be usedfor further doses.

As such, a predetermined dose of liquid is trapped in dosing reservoir18. Thus, in this embodiment, by filling the main recipient with liquid,a specific predetermined dose of liquid may enter this dosing reservoir.This dosing reservoir fixes the amount of liquid to be expelled, andthus its size depends on the desired treatment.

Dosing reservoir 18 will now be described in more detail with referenceto FIGS. 3 and 4.

As can be seen, when looked upon from below, dosing reservoir 18 thushas top surface 18 t, a hollow section 18 c, a central section 18 e anda solid section 18 d. Hollow section 18 c thus defines the actual doseof liquid to be expelled, as this section will be filled with liquidcontained in main recipient 16 once the dosing reservoir is fittedthereon. Central section 18 e is a hole traversing the top surface 18 tand arranged in solid section 18 d by removal of the materialconstituting dosing reservoir 18 in its centre portion. Orifice membraneplate 22 is arranged at the bottom of this hole of central section 18 e,and thus seals this hole. Solid section 18 d extends from the topsurface of dosing reservoir downwards, similar to peripheral wall 18 a.However, solid section 18 d does not extend as far as wall 18 a, butstops short thereof. Once assembled, this arrangement will create afluidic channel 21 in-between the surface of solid section 18 d and theflat surface of main recipient 16. This fluidic channel 21 allows forcapillary communication between hollow section 18 c and the centreportion of dosing reservoir 18 so that liquid may flow from the hollowsection to the centre portion, and thus to the orifice membrane plate ofdosing reservoir 18.

Orifice membrane plate 22 is arranged such that by powering thevibrating element, an ultrasonic sound wave is applied to the liquid andthis liquid will contact the orifice plate so as to be expelled as aspray of droplets.

As can be understood from the above, as the inner surface of mainrecipient 16 is flat, it is easy to correctly clean such.

Further, this main recipient 16 can be easily removed from the mainbody, to allow for more thorough cleaning. Main body 1 does not itselfenter into contact with any liquid, so it is not necessary to cleansuch, other than for normal maintenance.

In a further preferred arrangement, dosing reservoir 18, together withmembrane plate 22 integrated therein, may be configured as a disposablepart. This further avoids any risk of contamination, as simply theentire dosing reservoir and the membrane plate may be replaced afteruse. For example, every day, a patient merely attaches a new dosingreservoir with integrated membrane plate onto the main recipient for anext dose.

As such, it is also easier to allow for modified amounts of doses ofliquids to be expelled. A set of dosing reservoirs may be provided, eachwith a different size of hollow section 18 c, so that differentpredetermined doses, for different treatments, may be provided.

Advantageously, main recipient 16 may also be disposable to furtheravoid any risk of contamination.

The above arrangement further allows for an increased ease of use duringoperation of the device. In fact, due to the construction with orificeplate arranged in dosing membrane, and with the fluidic capillarychannel there below, a pressure chamber is created below orifice plate.Any liquid entering this pressure chamber will be expelled as a spray ofdroplets once the vibrating element is powered.

This pressure chamber has as additional advantage that liquid containedin the dosing reservoir will not flow out of the atomiser when inclined,of course also by a suitable choice the size of the orifices in themembrane plate 22.

This also means that the atomiser will operate correctly even when thenebulizer is inclined. As such, a patient may use the atomiser with anincreased ease of use, as he is much less restricted in the positioningof the nebulizer, as compared to the above discussed prior art devices.

Having described now the preferred embodiments of this invention, itwill be apparent to one of skill in the art that other embodimentsincorporating its concept may be used. It is felt, therefore, that thisinvention should not be limited to the disclosed embodiments, but rathershould be limited only by the scope of the appended claims.

1. A nebulizer comprising: (A) a main body; (B) an atomiser for atomising a liquid so as to expel the liquid as a spray of droplets from nebulizer; and (C) a vibrating element, wherein the atomiser comprises: i. a substrate; ii. a main recipient supported by the substrate for containing the liquid and having a bottom outer surface, a flat top inner surface and an outer wall erecting from the top surface to delimit the main recipient; iii. a dosing reservoir arranged on the main recipient for delimiting a predetermined amount of liquid to be expelled, and having an upper surface and a wall extending downwards from the upper surface towards the main recipient, when assembled thereto, wherein the dosing reservoir comprises: (a) a hollow section defining the predetermined amount of liquid; (b) a solid section extending downwards from the upper surface; (c) a central section that includes a hole traversing the upper surface and arranged in the solid section; (d) an orifice membrane plate arranged at a bottom of the hole of the central section, for sealing the hole; and (e) a fluidic channel arranged in-between a bottom surface of the solid section and the flat top inner surface of the main recipient for creating a capillary communication between the hollow section and the orifice membrane plate.
 2. A nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said dosing reservoir has a top sealing surface arranged above said fluidic channel so that said fluidic channel is trapped between said top surfaces and a top surface of the vibrating element.
 3. A nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said dosing reservoir is provided as a disposable part.
 4. A nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said main recipient is provided as a disposable part.
 5. A nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said main body comprises electronic circuitry, said vibrating element, and a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as the spray of droplets.
 6. A nebulizer according to claim 1, wherein said nebulizer includes said vibrating element, and said main body includes a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as a spray of droplets.
 7. A nebulizer according to claim 2, wherein said dosing reservoir is provided as a disposable part.
 8. A nebulizer according to claim 2, wherein said main recipient is provided as a disposable part.
 9. A nebulizer according to claim 2, wherein said main body comprises electronic circuitry, said vibrating element, and a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as the spray of droplets.
 10. A nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein said main body comprises electronic circuitry, said vibrating element, and a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as the spray of droplets.
 11. A nebulizer according to claim 4, wherein said main body comprises electronic circuitry, said vibrating element, and a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as the spray of droplets.
 12. A nebulizer according to claim 2, wherein said main body comprises electronic circuitry, said vibrating element, and a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as the spray of droplets.
 13. A nebulizer according to claim 7, wherein said main body comprises electronic circuitry, said vibrating element, and a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as the spray of droplets.
 14. A nebulizer according to claim 8, wherein said main body comprises electronic circuitry, said vibrating element, and a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as the spray of droplets.
 15. A nebulizer according to claim 2, wherein said nebulizer includes said vibrating element, and said main body includes a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as a spray of droplets.
 16. A nebulizer according to claim 3, wherein said nebulizer includes said vibrating element, and said main body includes a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as a spray of droplets.
 17. A nebulizer according to claim 4, wherein said nebulizer includes said vibrating element, and said main body includes a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as a spray of droplets.
 18. A nebulizer according to claim 7, wherein said nebulizer includes said vibrating element, and said main body includes a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as a spray of droplets.
 19. A nebulizer according to claim 8, wherein said nebulizer includes said vibrating element, and said main body includes a power source for powering said vibrating element so as to act on liquid in said atomiser, whereby said liquid is expelled as a spray of droplets. 